16th May 2016

The Visitor’s Guide to Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds

Chipping Norton is what you would call a small town but really it’s more like a large village. Confused? Don’t be.. here’s the thing: Chipping Norton is one of the most wonderful towns in the Cotswolds, but while it is, in fact, a town with all the convenience that offers,; it still has the personality of a typical Cotswold village.

The Tea Set

The Chipping Norton Tea-Set, a local catering business specializing in afternoon tea parties, wished to add to their business in order to reach locals and visitors to the Cotswolds with their wonderful tea party delights. This wish culminated in the much anticipated opening of The Tea Set in Chipping Norton, a beautiful tea room on the High Street offering the very best in afternoon teas, coffee and cake, sandwiches and hot lunches, pre-theatre suppers, bubbly and much more. When in the Cotswolds, don’t miss out on a visit to The Tea Set in Chipping Norton. Whether for a delicious lunch, a nice cuppa and a slice of homemade cake or a full afternoon tea with bubbles, you’ll have the most wonderful experience in this brand new addition to the Chipping Norton scene.

Mette says, “I love Afternoon Teas and no tea room in the Cotswolds sets the scene, or serves the Afternoon Tea better, than The Tea Set in Chipping Norton”.

The Fibreworks

If you love knitting, crochet, sewing and all things creative and inspirational, you need to visit The Fibreworks shop and studio in the centre of Chipping Norton. This is a hub of creativity and a place to shop, meet up and spend time with old and new creative friends.With an annual Fibre Festival at the end of May with guest speakers, lectures and classes, frequent exhibitions and smaller events throughout the year The Fibreworks truly is a hub for creatives, both locals and visitors. The shop stocks a wide selection of yarns, needles, yarns, haberdashery and quilting fabrics, sourced from independent and Fair Trade producers across the globe.

Wild Thyme

This restaurant in Chipping Norton is proof that some of the greatest things come in small packages. Wild Thyme is a small restaurant with room for just 35 diners at any one time, but what comes out of the kitchen at this wonderful restaurant is big flavours. For a truly magnificent culinary experience in Chipping Norton, Wild Thyme is THE place to go.

MASH Lifestyle

When it comes to great design- and lifestyle shops, the Cotswolds has some of the very best. One of these is MASH Lifestyle in Chipping Norton, a truly wonderful shop full of great items for men, for women, for the home as well as gifts and cards. MASH is known far and wide for it’s amazing design- and home wares collections, so whether you’re looking for that perfect piece for your own home or for a gift for a friend, you’ll find something unique and special in this shop. With a large chunk of the shop dedicated to the discerning gentleman, and done so successfully on account of the shop owner and buyer being one himself, you’re sure to find a gift for any man in MASH. Women are not left behind and love shopping at MASH too, with a wonderful collection of jewellery, scarves and bags, tastefully chosen for the female shopper.

Chris says, “We love MASH! Even when we’re not in town to shop, we have to visit MASH, and more often than not, the ‘we’re not in town to shop’ plan goes out the window”.

Bliss Mill

The old tweed mill just a few minute’s walk from the centre of town, is truly a magnificent sight. When you enter the town from the A44 from Moreton-in-Marsh, this iconic is what greets you on the right hand side just before you get to the town. When out walking, you can get up close and personal with what used to be a working mill but what is now the most beautiful apartment “block” imaginable.

Jaffe & Neale

You know the kind of bookshop you only really see in movies? The kind where the owners are around and they really love books and they’re happy to help and chat with you about what you’re looking for. The kind with a little café where they’re serving great coffee and cake and have chairs and tables where you can sit for hours and read your books. Well, such a place does exist off the big screen, it’s right in the centre of Chipping Norton and it’s called Jaffe and Neale. If you love books, you must go!

The Quiet Woman

Worth a visit for it’s name alone, The Quiet Woman is a large antiques centre offering a wide selection of antiques as well as a small cafe serving breakfast, teas and coffees and cakes. This antiques centre offers a quality selection or antiques, all presented for sale by a number of specialised and experienced dealers. It includes Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian furniture, collectable items, coins and artefacts. Antique weapons and militaria, antique china, antique silver and jewellery, antique glass and pottery, paintings and prints, Victorian copper and brass items, kitchenalia and antique pine furniture.

The Fox

We all love a good dining pub. Especially one that has that perfect look of part local, part country charm and one that serves amazing pub grub.. Ohhh Ahhh! Such a place is The Fox in Chipping Norton. Go there for great food and drink, super service and a cosy, country atmosphere.

Jon says, “I’ve had several meals at The Fox and will keep coming back. Super food, service and atmosphere.. right up my street”.

The Chipping Norton Theatre

Known far and wide for high quality productions throughout the year, but especially for it’s famous yearly Panto that draws crowds from all over the country to the town, The Chipping Norton Theatre is THE place to go for a Cotswold theatre experience.

The Rollright Stones

This ancient site just outside the town of Chipping Norton, consists of three main elements, The Kings Men stone circle, the King Stone, and the Whispering Knights. A wonderful and impressive look into our past, The Rollright Stones is the perfect location for a stroll, walk or a run. The name of the stones is believed to derive from “Hrolla-landriht”, translated to “The stones by the land of Hrolla”.